This book presents a multi-sited ethnographic study of the global development of the Taiwanese
Buddhist order Fo Guang Shan. It explores the order's modern Buddhist social engagements by
examining three globally dispersed field sites: Los Angeles in the United States of America
Bronkhorstspruit in South Africa and Yixing in the People's Republic of China. The data
collected at these field sites is embedded within the context of broader theoretical
discussions on Buddhism modernity globalization and the nation-state. By examining how one
particular modern Buddhist religiosity that developed in a specific place moves into a global
context the book provides a fresh view of what constitutes both modern and contemporary
Buddhism while also exploring the social cultural and religious fabrics that underlie the
spatial configurations of globalization.
